Arsenobetaine is an organoarsenical and a compatible solute that has been found in various marine animals, such as lobsters and crabs, as well as terrestrial organisms, including earthworms and lichens.^1,2It is protective againstB. subtiliscell death induced by high osmolarity or extreme temperatures when used at a concentration of 1 mM.²Arsenobetaine is non-toxic to mice (LD₅₀= 10 g/kg).^1,2

1.Popowich, A., Zhang, Q., and Le, X.Arsenobetaine: The ongoing mysteryNatl. Sci. Rev.3(4)451-458(2016) 2.Hoffmann, T., Warmbold, B., Smits, S.H.J., et al.Arsenobetaine: An ecophysiologically important organoarsenical confers cytoprotection against osmotic stress and growth temperature extremesEnviron. Microbiol.20(1)305-323(2018)